Kelowna horses get new home

KELOWNA–They were rescued once, but a group of abandoned and surrendered horses found themselves at risk once again.

After five and a half years, and 50 horse rescues, the BC Interior Horse Rescue Society was told it had to move from the donated property it was using by October 15.

If a new home couldn’t be found the horses would have to be surrendered to other rescue societies and the association would be forced to fold.

Amanda McNeil is the vice president of the society.  She was volunteering for a Kelowna horse trainer, Phil Sansational,  and explained the dire circumstances.  To her surprise, Sansational offered up a couple of acres of his own property.

He runs a training and boarding facility on a 10 acre parcel, but thought he had a couple of acres to spare for the society.

“I don’t have time to donate because I’m so busy seven days a week with my own horses,” explains Sansational, “so I decided to donate land.”

His fiancee Adrienne Smith says she loves the idea.  

“I’m so excited to have them because there will be more horses here and it’s a good feeling to rescue horses.” 

The society currently has three horses in its care. The plan is to move them to the new property sometime next week, after volunteers finsh moving rock and clearing the land to make it safe for the horses.